Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Rteacher]

I don't think anyone wore their Dave's avatar nametag, but I think that a lot of folks from this forum did show up to help a good cause.

(Some identified themselves to me as "kermo's friend"...)

Before it got real crowded I talked with "timvas" and some of the group's dedicated volunteers - including Maggie, the main organizer of the event. They expect a decision regarding their plea for an extension by Thursday.

When it got more-or-less packed, I basically got stuck in a corner near the entrance where I ended up pleasantly chatting mostly with "the bobster" and his wife (along with "Zysypher" - who said he was acting as "bobster's bodyguard" ...)

Someone commented that the walls should have displayed photos of human kids that need to be adopted. I pointed out that if someone put in the effort to organize it, supported by likeminded volunteers to do the detailed work involved, then I'm sure that generous people from the expat community would attend a benefit event for that, too.

It's also a bigger, more expensive and more complex problem to help a cause like starving orphans in North Korea.

[SeoulShakin]

Hmm, I was at a table near the entrance, but couldn't identify any of you folks.

Glad that people came out.

[The Bobster]

I had a good time, and I want to toss as many kudos as possible to Anie and Time for all the work they did to organize this, and to the bands who showed up and entertained people to help a cause will hopefully make things better for dogs and people, too.

Thanks for the beer, Tim, and next time you gotta let me buy you one. Clue: Canada makes some good brew, but the best is called Alley Cat, not Moosehead. Okay, that's just my opinion.

I think the best kind of thing that might come out of this is a trend getting started where foreigers look around and devote some of their time and a little cash to making improvement to whatever place they are in. Some of that happens already, I know - I'm thinking Hash House Harriers, for one - but there's always room for more. Ultimately, everybody wins - dogs, Korea, and waygookin who catch a bad rap for whatever reason. We can do things together to help make a difference wherever we are, and that's a good thing.

I hope the evening was considered to be enough of a success that others will follow, and I'll be happy to do what I can to help. I have a few ideas, actually, and I'm gonna communicate one or two of them to Annie and Tim when I get a chance.

And a big virtual hug to RTeacher for publicizing this here, and you know, I think he hung around the place a bit just so he could greet me and my friends. That's sweet, and sorry for the late arrival, big guy. The galbi we had cookin' was sweet enough we couldn't resist tossing an extra helping on the fire. Yum.

Seriously, RT, I think it was a great idea to get the Veggie Club involved with this, and then later to attach the event (unofficially) to this site. The Cafe is often criticized as a place where foreigners come to bash Korea and nothing else - very much ahrder to make that kind of claim, when we can see the place being used as a vehicle to improve things for Korea as well.

Oh, and for anyone who wants to know, it turns out that Jello Shots are NOT vegetarian. I didn't know that. Learn something new every day ...

[crusher_of_heads]

[Funky Chunk]

I definitely had a good time too. Improv was pretty good, though I'm still a bit disappointed at Maggie for not working the "sleeping with the student" twist from the hagwon scenario I called out. Oh well... maybe next time.

I think people were really enjoying the jello shots too. When Barnacle Box paused in her shot distribution duties to eat my nachos a few people went into jello withdraw.

Either way, it looked as though people were enjoying themselves, and plenty of cash was being collected for the doggies. Hopefully it was enough.

[Rteacher]

"The bobster" has made an interesting suggestion that could possibly benefit both dogs and human kids in need of adoption: give the dogs to orphans.

Of course, orphanages would have to be subsidized with funds to cover the cost of the dog food, and there may be other complications, but it would provide both the dogs and orphans with some needed companionship.

[timvas]

Thanks to all who turned up on Friday night. RT and The Bobster - pleased I could at least flick you a ginger ale and a pale imitation of a proper beer respectively kermo - was very nice to meet you. SeoulShakin and Funky Chunk sorry I didn't get to thank you in person (it's kinda hard to recognise all the faces from Dave's unless you manage to memorise all the photos from the "How Hawt Are You?" thread). Funky Chunk - you know Barnacle Box? Has she always been such a nutter or has the running group just corrupted her...?

The Bobster & Mrs Bobster have made some interesting suggestions regarding future fund raising efforts. It might be worthwhile to hold a joint fundraiser with supporters of other ventures such as Korean orphans or perhaps the homeless. That way we may be able to attract a wider participation and we can split any money raised between the various causes. We will put some further thought into this, subject to what happens with our requested extension to the scheduled shelter closure date.

Re Friday night, we had a great turnout, over 100 people came out to the RMT - we were most appreciative of those who made the effort to head out on a wet Seoul night to show their support for the rescue effort. We raised around 2.2 million Won on the night and received another 1.0 million Won in direct donations from people who weren't able to make it to the fundraiser but were kind enough to provide some financial assistance anyway.

Huge thanks to The Forty Days, The Mechanical Seals and Seoul City Improv who all did their thing for gratis - we are incredibly appreciative. Thanks also to Corry and everyone from the Rocky Mountain Tavern - just a great venue and all the staff were incredibly helpful when I turned up later than planned and need to put up 200 posters of rescue dogs quickly. Also a big thank you to everyone who helped put the event together and assisted on the night - Maggie, Elyssa, Annie, Sarah, Jen, Brigette (apologies if I have left anyone out, I think I'm still drunk to be honest...) and to everyone who helped promote the event by distributing flyers, creating facebook events etc (Mark, Ron a special thank you to you). Also to everyone who was kind enough to donate items to the raffle - much appreciated.

The money will be a huge help with our ongoing expenditure on the shelter dogs' welfare.

We have applied to the Daejeon council for an extension to the scheduled 28 Feb closure date for the shelter. We are hopeful that this request will be met favourably given we have reduced the number of dogs from 210 in June last year to 111 as of last weekend, but we don't know whether this reduction is proceeding quickly enough for their liking (or the liking of the owner of the property).

We did have a good weekend with adoptions and dogs taken out of the shelter into foster care - 7 dogs were rehomed and we also managed to rescue one puppy from the Daejeon city council shelter (not Mrs Jung's shelter) into foster care. I will post pics of the adoptions & fosters in the forums section of our website www.animalrescuekorea.org at some point in the next few days when I have a moment.

Mrs Jung also had a visit from a KBS tv show about animals (which I think is called ZooZoo CLub - I could be wrong about the name of it though...) They were really nice - they brought out dog food, a vet to check on the dogs and a mobile dog groomer to bathe and clip some of the shabbier-looking dogs. Keep an eye out for Mrs Jung's shelter if you are in the habit of watching that program (which I'm sure all of you are...ahem...)

If we do receive an extension then the funds raised last week will assist us with the dogs' ongoing veterinary care (neutering/spaying, diseased teeth removal, heartworm treatments, immunisation injections, eye treatments, relocation expenses for dogs that have to travel etc). The Macquarie Group Foundation continue to kindly assist us with purchasing dog food (100+ dogs are kinda expensive to feed...).

If we don't manage to secure an extension then the funds raised will help us in our efforts to arrange emergency relocation for some of the dogs (eg to other animal rescue groups, which will most likely require the provision of financial support for their ongoing care).

If anyone has any questions regarding the shelter or needs more information please contact me any time.

Best
Tim

[Zyzyfer]

[Bramble]

Tim or Annie, is there any news? Did you get the extension?

[Rteacher]

They expect to know by this Thursday (Tim told me at the benefit...)

[Rteacher]

Well, I just got this email from "timvas" (who may post another thread about it, but I thought I'd add it on to here ...):

Some good News - I heard from Lt Commander Lee this afternoon.

The Daejeon Council has agreed to extend the date for Mrs Jung to remove her dogs from the shelter for 4 months until 30 July 2008.

We had a good weekend for fosters and fosters last Saturday & Sunday, so we estimate there are less than 110 dogs there now, down from around 210 in June last year.

So we will continue with the weekly trips to Daejeon every Saturday, hopefully we can continue to adopt or foster dogs every weekend to reduce the number even further.

I should also emphasise that many of the "easier" dogs have been adopted or fostered and we are left with a substantial number of shy dogs. These dogs benefit greatly from volunteers visiting them as regularly as possible to either take them for walks (if they are confident enough to do so) or to carry them while we walk the other dogs. This is the only way to socialise some of these dogs and we have successfully adopted perhaps 20 dogs from the shelter who would otherwise still be there if it wasn't for the efforts of the volunteers to bring them out of their shells and build their confidence around people.

Attached are pics of just a few of these dogs that we have adopted purely because the volunteers have persisted with them.

Anyone who has time to come to the shelter on a Saturday (or any other day that you are free) you are most welcome, please be aware you are making a tremendous difference to the future of these dogs.

Best
Tim

[TECO]

that's awesome!

[Bramble]

Yes, it's great news. I really hope the poor dogs can be saved.